Contact Photo: La Coperacha · The indivisibility and interdependence of social and political human...

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Centre for International Dialogue and Cooperation

Transcript of Contact Photo: La Coperacha · The indivisibility and interdependence of social and political human...

Page 1: Contact Photo: La Coperacha · The indivisibility and interdependence of social and political human rights is a central tenet of the concept of Global Social Rights. The Rosa-Luxemburg-Stiftung

Centre for International Dialogue and Cooperation

Contact

Rosa-Luxemburg-StiftungGesellschaftsanalyse und Politische Bildung e. V. Franz-Mehring-Platz 1 10243 BerlinGermany

Telephone +49 30 44310-0 www.rosalux.org

Rosa-Luxemburg-Stiftung International Offices

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Page 2: Contact Photo: La Coperacha · The indivisibility and interdependence of social and political human rights is a central tenet of the concept of Global Social Rights. The Rosa-Luxemburg-Stiftung

Almaty www.rosalux.de/en/ foundation/zid

Athens www.rosalux.gr/en

Beirut www.rosalux.de/en/ foundation/zid

Belgrade www.rosalux.rs/en

Brussels www.rosalux.eu

Buenos Aires www.rosaluxspba.org

Dakar www.rosalux.sn

Dar es Salam www.rosalux.co.tz

New Delhi www.rosalux.in

Hanoi www.rls-sea.de

Johannesburg www.rosalux.co.za

Kiev www.rosalux.org.ua

Madrid www.rosalux.de/en/ foundation/zid

Manila www.rosalux.de/en/ foundation/zid

Mexico City www.rosalux.org.mx

Moscow www.rosalux.ru

New York www.rosalux-nyc.org

Beijing www.rosalux.de/en/ foundation/zid

Prague www.rosalux.de/en/ foundation/zid

Quito www.rosalux.org.ec

Ramallah www.rosaluxemburg.ps

São Paulo www.rosaluxspba.org

Tel Aviv www.rosalux.org.il

Tunis www.rosaluxna.org

Warsaw www.rls.pl

Page 3: Contact Photo: La Coperacha · The indivisibility and interdependence of social and political human rights is a central tenet of the concept of Global Social Rights. The Rosa-Luxemburg-Stiftung

For Democratic and Social Rights Worldwide

The Rosa-Luxemburg-Stiftung is a left-wing foundation which, together with its international department, the Centre for International Dialogue and Cooperation (CID), is active across the world in fostering and providing political education. The Rosa-Luxemburg-Stiftung maintains regional and international offices in over twenty locations, and collaborates with hundreds of partner organisations, political bodies and individuals in more than 80 countries. Our work seeks to lend support to emancipatory political forces, and help forge alternative social models founded on democratic socialist values. Our vision for a future society rests on the full realisation of democratic and social rights for all people, a socially just and ecologically sustainable global economic order, gender equality and feminism, international solidarity and peace. Effectively, this will require overcoming the capitalist mode of production.The Rosa-Luxemburg-Stiftung is affiliated with DIE LINKE (the Left Party) in the Federal Republic of Germany. As is the case with other German party-affiliated foundations, it receives funding from the public budget. As a space for critical thought, the Rosa-Luxemburg-Stiftung facilitates discussions of political processes and the development of alternatives while also acting as a hub for emancipatory educational projects: we share and disseminate knowledge in order to encourage all forms of self-organisation and participation. The Rosa-Luxemburg-Stiftung is also a partner to left-wing actors, bringing together various left-wing organisations and individuals, and providing a forum for political dialogue. Our international work strives to incorporate the perspectives and experiences of our partners abroad into political dialogue in Germany, and to ensure a genuinely equal and reciprocal exchange of knowledge. Together with our partners, the Rosa-Luxemburg-Stiftung focuses on a range of key issues in order to develop political alternatives at the local, national and international level.

Page 4: Contact Photo: La Coperacha · The indivisibility and interdependence of social and political human rights is a central tenet of the concept of Global Social Rights. The Rosa-Luxemburg-Stiftung

Asserting Global Social Rights

Strengthening the concept of Global Social Rights is a key area of the Rosa-Luxemburg-Stiftung’s international work. We fight for the social rights of employed and unemployed workers, the precariously employed, peasant farmers, the landless, indigenous groups, women, people with different sexual orientations, those with special needs, migrants and other groups affected by exploitation, discrimination or racism. At the same time, we defend and promote the expansion of democratic rights, including the right to establish unions, freedom of the press and freedom of speech.

We consider the full realisation of social, economic and cultural human rights – including the right to adequate food, adequate housing, access to education, the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health, the right to work, and safe and healthy working conditions – to be a prerequisite for the full realisation of civil and political rights, and vice-versa.

Mexico: Doña Amalia on the ‘National Day of Maize’ in Xochimilco, Mexico City: a demonstration against genetically modified maize and for the preservation of native corn varieties.Photo: Agencia de Información Cooperativa ‘La Coperacha’

Page 5: Contact Photo: La Coperacha · The indivisibility and interdependence of social and political human rights is a central tenet of the concept of Global Social Rights. The Rosa-Luxemburg-Stiftung

The indivisibility and interdependence of social and political human rights is a central tenet of the concept of Global Social Rights. The Rosa-Luxemburg-Stiftung endeavours to assert these rights by helping social movements to articulate their interests and move towards self-organisation at the local, national and international level. At the same time, we lend support to political actors working to have social and democratic rights enshrined at the legislative level in parliaments, as well as in international agreements and conventions.

Climate Justice Programme: the climate crisis is a social crisis, demonstration for climate justice, Bonn, 2017.Photo: RLS_Klima

Page 6: Contact Photo: La Coperacha · The indivisibility and interdependence of social and political human rights is a central tenet of the concept of Global Social Rights. The Rosa-Luxemburg-Stiftung

Promoting an Ecological and Just Transformation of Society

Across the world, the model of a capitalist, fossil fuel-based mode of production and living threatens the lives of countless people. In addition to cyclical economic crises, the past decades have also exposed us to ecological crises that threaten the climate, food production and water supplies. In many countries, social infrastructure and energy supply networks have collapsed. Against this backdrop, we view socio-ecological transformation as the first step on the path towards a radical restructuring of the predominant modes of production and living.

We must overcome the ecologically destructive growth doctrine that lies at the heart of the capitalist mode of production, the ongoing economic exploitation of natural resources and predatory extractivism.

We thus support the development of concepts and strategies that facilitate the ecologically sustainable conversion of energy supply networks and production processes. Crucially, this necessary ecological transformation must go hand in hand with a strengthening of social rights, and can only take place on the basis of democratic participation. Expanding democracy and boosting public participation are therefore essential preconditions to the fundamental restructuring of the economy and society, and a transformation of the modes of production, consumption and the world of work. Concepts such as economic democracy, climate justice, energy democracy, food sovereignty, good work, the fair distribution of gainful employment and unpaid reproductive work, basic social security, a solidarity-based economy and the Commons provide starting points for the political, economic, social and cultural development of a solidarity-based mode of living – a green socialism – which is our ultimate aim.

www.rosalux.org

Page 7: Contact Photo: La Coperacha · The indivisibility and interdependence of social and political human rights is a central tenet of the concept of Global Social Rights. The Rosa-Luxemburg-Stiftung

New York: podium discussion organised by the ‘Trade Unions for Energy Democracy’ (TUED) initiative at the COP 21 in Paris, featuring Jeremy Corbyn, Naomi Klein and Joshua Mata. Photo: Laura-May Abron

Working Towards International Solidarity, a Just Global Economic Order and Positive Peace

Since the 15th century, the expansion of the capitalist mode of production has hinged on the colonial and imperialist regimes of the powerful European states and North America. War and slavery laid the foundations for the wealth of the Global North. In the globalised capitalism of the 21st century, we are now seeing the emergence of new centres of international political and financial power. The dominant order structuring the global economy and global trade is creating a polarisation of wealth on one side and poverty on the other, while exacerbating global inequality and injustice. Our response to this is to fight for a just global economic order based on trade policies that strengthen social rights, ecological sustainability, local economic cycles and fair trade.

Page 8: Contact Photo: La Coperacha · The indivisibility and interdependence of social and political human rights is a central tenet of the concept of Global Social Rights. The Rosa-Luxemburg-Stiftung

Johannesburg: Plough Back the Fruits. Artwork depicting the Widows of Marikana’s demands, which are addressed to Lonmin and BASF.Photo: Widows of Marikana

The power of transnational corporations controlling the world market must be broken and destructive free trade agreements replaced by alternatives. We must regulate today’s liberalised financial markets.

Strengthening international solidarity among workers along transnational value chains is a key element in establishing greater global justice. At the political level, therefore, our efforts are concentrated on creating global governance structures based on principles of global equality and promoting the participation of civil society. This ought to include fundamental reforms to the United Nations. We promote political dialogue on a just world order aimed in particular at empowering transnational social movements and actors from the Global South.In this way, we also see our work as contributing to a new policy of peace, which seeks above all to eradicate the structural violence of global inequality. Our concept of positive peace grasps the full realisation of social and democratic rights as a prerequisite for the deterrence and resolution of civil conflicts, and the establishment of peace. Ultimately, justice and peace are deeply intertwined and mutually reinforcing.

Page 9: Contact Photo: La Coperacha · The indivisibility and interdependence of social and political human rights is a central tenet of the concept of Global Social Rights. The Rosa-Luxemburg-Stiftung

Strengthening Left-Wing Organising

Across the world, neoliberal capitalism’s multiple crises have triggered several waves of protest. The issues these protests have focused on are as diverse as the problems and conflicts troubling the different societies in which they occur: democratic rights, working conditions, the widespread destruction of ecosystems, patriarchal social relations, racism and migrants’ rights, the right to the city, the right to land and many other issues. Most of these struggles are waged directly by affected actors and their supporters. For left-wing organisations, such social movements represent important partners – in fact, they are often an integral part of these movements. At the same time, left-wing organising does more than just stand up to injustice; it strives to develop social alternatives and turn them into reality. In many countries, left-wing parties are represented in parliament and actively involved in government.

We help different left-wing actors share experiences and exchange strategies to better coordinate left-wing organising. To this end, we connect with social movements, unions and civil society organisations, as well as left-wing parties, governments and institutions.

Tel Aviv: new forms of worker organisation – an opportunity for a new left politics? Social worker strike, Tel Aviv, 2011.Photo: Activestills

Page 10: Contact Photo: La Coperacha · The indivisibility and interdependence of social and political human rights is a central tenet of the concept of Global Social Rights. The Rosa-Luxemburg-Stiftung

A central task in strengthening left-wing organising is to develop a unifying class politics capable of integrating the different levels of political action – a task that involves us identifying the elements connecting various struggles, and helping different actors to forge coalitions and alliances. In this context, activation methods, the analysis of media relations, negotiation, the organisation and running of campaigns, and techniques gleaned from Transformative Organising have proven to be effective tools in strengthening left-wing organising. One particular challenge we face lies in the development of international networks and the encouragement of left-wing actors to develop a transnational dimension to their activities.

Left-Wing Politics of Remembrance and Critical Theoretical Reflection

The Rosa-Luxemburg-Stiftung’s work is guided by a critical understanding of history and historical consciousness. The past frames conditions for political action in the present in deeply essential ways. Yet while narratives and views of history may

Food Sovereignty Programme: Amandla! – Awethu! Power! – To the People! Agricultural workers, representatives of the South African union CSAAWU and foundation’s staff.Photo: Carola Franz

Page 11: Contact Photo: La Coperacha · The indivisibility and interdependence of social and political human rights is a central tenet of the concept of Global Social Rights. The Rosa-Luxemburg-Stiftung

Warsaw: some 5,000 Jewish children were saved from the Holocaust during the German occupation of Poland during World War II; many were taken in by Polish families. Fifteen of them tell their moving stories in an exhibition titled ‘My Jewish parents, my Polish parents’.Photo: Holger Politt

serve to legitimise power relations, they can also serve to assert political alternatives.

As an institution based in the Federal Republic of Germany but active throughout the world, the Rosa-Luxemburg-Stiftung addresses the crimes perpetrated by Germany, such as the war and extermination policies of National Socialism, or colonialism, and criticises revisionist narratives that relativise the crimes committed under National Socialism.

We are interested in the history of liberation movements and of the Left throughout the world, which includes a critical examination of the history of state socialism. In our political education projects, we develop views and narratives of history seeking to highlight – and encourage people to utilise – spaces for political action. We also discuss critical social theories, political economy and theories of education. We believe that theoretical reflection is an integral part of political praxis. In our international work, as well, our points of reference are the prominent figures of socialist history, devoting particular attention to Karl Marx and our namesake, Rosa Luxemburg.

Page 12: Contact Photo: La Coperacha · The indivisibility and interdependence of social and political human rights is a central tenet of the concept of Global Social Rights. The Rosa-Luxemburg-Stiftung

The Rosa-Luxemburg- Stiftung in Germany

The Rosa-Luxemburg-Stiftung is one of the main institutions of left-wing political education in the Federal Republic of Germany. It sees itself as part of the wider and consistently international movement for democratic socialism. As one of Germany’s six party-affiliated political foundations, it cooperates closely with DIE LINKE. Founded in 1990, the foundation seeks to pursue activities in line with the values of its namesake, Rosa Luxemburg. The foundation is divided into various departments which are mainly responsible for administrative tasks and projects in Germany, while its Centre for International Dialogue and Cooperation (ZID) oversees the foundation’s international work.

The Institute for Critical Social Analysis (IfG) primarily focuses on political and strategic analysis and debate on how to bring about a socialist transformation. Part of this mission involves developing connective perspectives that link theoretical approaches and specific critical analyses with a strategic search for effective political interventions and networking, and Transformative Organising practices to help reorganise the social left.

The Rosa-Luxemburg-Stiftung strives to rethink traditional concepts of civic education, and the Academy for Political Education is especially devoted to this task. The department’s mission is to empower and encourage individuals to add their voices to socio-political debates and address conflicts actively. In addition to offering essential knowledge on core socio-political issues, the academy focuses on highlighting and facilitating new pathways into politics and political action.

Page 13: Contact Photo: La Coperacha · The indivisibility and interdependence of social and political human rights is a central tenet of the concept of Global Social Rights. The Rosa-Luxemburg-Stiftung

As well as being institutional members of the Rosa-Luxemburg-Stiftung, the regional foundations promote educational work across Germany’s 16 federal states. Their close cooperation via the foundation’s department for Nationwide Work facilitates the organisation of roughly 1,900 events throughout Germany every year.

Since 2017, the foundation’s Archive of Democratic Socialism has focused on bringing together various themes and tasks related to preserving and exploring the past. This also involves civic education and research projects as well as editorial activities on Rosa Luxemburg herself. The archive and the library of the Rosa-Luxemburg-Stiftung also document the collective memory of democratic socialism as well as the activities of DIE LINKE and its predecessors since 1989/90.

As part of its Scholarship Department, the Rosa-Luxemburg-Stiftung provides assistance to young scholars by offering grants and a wide range of support to students and doctoral researchers who have shown outstanding academic achievement as well as a commitment to social engagement in line with the values of the Rosa-Luxemburg-Stiftung. In this context, one of the Scholarship Department’s central aims is to counterbalance the social, political and gender discrimination prevalent in our society.

Page 14: Contact Photo: La Coperacha · The indivisibility and interdependence of social and political human rights is a central tenet of the concept of Global Social Rights. The Rosa-Luxemburg-Stiftung

For its namesake, the foundation deliberately chose one of the great women in history. Rosa Luxemburg stands for those whose actions align with their words: a characteristic which is far from self-evident, even on the Left. Luxemburg repeatedly faced discrimination and persecution before she was murdered by her opponents – simply for being a self-confident woman, a Jew, a Pole, a socialist and a committed anti-war activist. Rosa Luxemburg stands for independent thought that refuses to bow to any doctrine, let alone any apparatus.Her economic analyses presciently exposed the root causes that would ultimately lead to World War I. Together with Karl Liebknecht, she was one of the key proponents of internationalist and antimilitarist thought in Germany, and her intransigent struggle against war and her unwavering insistence that political freedom cannot exist without social equality remain an inspiration to this day. We at the Rosa-Luxemburg-Stiftung are committed to continuing the legacy of this proud democratic socialist.

Rosa Luxemburg1871–1919

Page 15: Contact Photo: La Coperacha · The indivisibility and interdependence of social and political human rights is a central tenet of the concept of Global Social Rights. The Rosa-Luxemburg-Stiftung

Centre for International Dialogue and Cooperation

Contact

Rosa-Luxemburg-StiftungGesellschaftsanalyse und Politische Bildung e. V. Franz-Mehring-Platz 1 10243 BerlinGermany

Telephone +49 30 44310-0 www.rosalux.org

Rosa-Luxemburg-Stiftung International Offices

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eria

na

Fab

ián

(m

emb

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f th

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once

jo M

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Ch

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, Mex

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, Ch

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, Mic

hoa

cán

, Mex

ico,

Ju

ne

2016

. Pho

to: L

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